As we come to the final speech of Proverbs 1-9, I was reminded of something Jim Elliot, the martyred missionary to Ecuador, famously said.
“Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”
He wanted to be a crisis man because he was following in the steps of His Savior, and Jesus was a crisis man. Everywhere Jesus taught, he called for a decision. “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
The gospel demands a decision. It doesn’t just present us with ideas “for our consideration” but with a fork. One path leads to death and one path leads to life. This has been the consistent theme of the father’s speeches in Proverbs 1-8 and in chapter 9, Lady Wisdom has her final “Come to Jesus!” moment (and as we’ve come to learn, Lady Wisdom is Jesus himself).
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” (Proverbs 9:4)
But Lady Folly isn’t standing silently by. She makes the identical appeal.
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” (Proverbs 9:16)
So as we come to the end of this fall series, the question is, “Have you made your decision? Which way will you turn? With whom will you walk?” Putting off the question is not an option. To put it off is ultimately to follow Lady Folly.
Would you join us this Sunday? We will have the privilege of hearing Dr. Ed Curtis preach Proverbs 9 for us as our guest.
Ed Curtis, is a wise, faithful, Christian gentleman. He is the husband of Joy, father of 2 sons, and Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Biola University. He joined the Biola faculty in 1978. Ed was a well-loved and respected professor. His main area of expertise is Hebrew language and wisdom literature. Ed has also taught internationally at Tyndale Theological Seminary in the Netherlands, and the Ukraine Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a long-time member and teacher at The First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton. Among his publications are, Transformed Thinking: Loving God with All of Your Mind, Discovering the Way of Wisdom, and Interpreting the Wisdom Books.
Let’s ask the Lord to make this Sunday a “crisis Sunday” so that all who are present and all who are watching online would hear Jesus’ call and “turn in here.”
See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!
Song Link of the Week
O Come, All You Unfaithful by Sovereign Grace Music
Backstory to this video:
It contains people who are processing O Come, All You Unfaithful, most of them for the first time, in light of their own experiences. A stillborn child. A strained marriage. Feelings of shame. Legalism. Loss. Loneliness. Or simply having a heart that weeps with those who weep.
Seeing their responses as Lisa Clow sings communicates even more clearly that Jesus wasn’t born for people who have it all together. He was born for those who have nothing.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28–30)
“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)
So come.